Page 19 of His Dark Purpose

Her mind was in free fall. Not only had he cuffed her, but he had her tied to the bed with ropes? When had the generous employer she’d fallen in love with become such a predator?

“Why?” Wide-eyed, she gawped at him. “Why do this, sir?”

There was nothing enticing about his authority anymore. Any hope of finding a light at the end of the impossibly dark tunnel of the past few hours seemed all but out of the question. Kyle’s world—the world Amy was restrained into—was growing blacker all the time.

“You know why.” There wasn’t a single flicker of remorse in his face. “I need to know where you areandguarantee you won’t run.”

His stare pierced her as thoughshewas guilty of a crime. Her, the woman bound to his bed, whose only sin was having discovered an uncomfortable truth he’d tried to hide.

“But what does that mean?” The pain in her belly heightened as he forced her to wait. “Am I your p-prisoner?” She’d considered her captivity before, but saying the ‘p’ word out loud, the idea sounded absurd.

“I wouldn’t put it that way.” Sliding the key into the lock, he released the first cuff and drew the metal from her limb.

Once again, she considered kicking him with her freed limb, but without the key, she’d have no way of making a break for it. All she’d achieve was only having three cuffed limbs and one extremely furious Kyle.

“So, howwouldyou put it?” Her voice was tentative as he moved to her right ankle, his gaze flicking to her face as his stony reply resounded.

“I’d say it’s in your interests to makemehappy.”

Part Two

Terror

Chapter Six

Servitude and Shame

Kyle

What was that he saw gleaming in her eyes?

Terror.

Culpability resonated in his chest, or at least it should have, but in the space where his guilt might have wallowed, there was only justified satisfaction.

She was afraid, and he was glad.

Let her fear me.

His jaw clenched at the sinister, sadistic streak swelling inside him. He loved her; he’d spent the last few weeks building his bloody world around her—giving her everything he could, pleasing and gratifying her—and she’d repaid him with the utter shitshow performance he’d been forced to witness.

That’s why she was bound.

Amy had left him with no choice but to act.

He inhaled, shoving down the bitterness building inside him. Resenting her wouldn’t do anything to serve either of them, but the emotion burned in his chest, regardless.

She’d let him down with her ferocious display, but he still loved her, and he was willing to do anything for her—anything toprotecther. That’s why he’d taken the drastic measures of both cuffing and binding her to his bed. He needed to ensure she was safe at all costs.

“Can I please relieve myself now?” She shifted as far as the cuffs allowed, her discomfort clearly growing.

Resisting the urge to revel in her distress, he focused on her remaining cuffed ankle, ensuring the rope he’d wound in place was secured. Both ankle restraints comprised fine, soft rope and there was ample slack available to ensure she could leave the bed, but the lines of rope only allowed her a certain length to maneuver before her wings would be clipped. He couldn’t wait to see how she’d react when she finally realized the limits of the new plan. Based on her recent outburst, he was sure his drama queen wouldn’t let him down.

Using the key to release her ankle from the metal bracelet, he moved along the bed to her left wrist. “Yes, I’ll release you.”

“Thank you, sir.” Genuine gratitude radiated from her as he tackled the final cuff.

Glancing down, he permitted their gazes to lock. She was still wearing the kinky maid’s outfit he’d bought her, the low-rising bodice and scantily-short skirt revealing her tantalizing body and reminding him of the reasons he’d wanted her in the first place.

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